Course content

This is a special course designed for students participating in an international program between NTNU and the University of Olomouc (Czech Republic), Ruhr University Bochum (Germany), Vienna University of Technology (Austria), University of Malta (Malta), Turku University (Finland), Utrecht University (Netherlands), Lentävä Liitutaulu OY (Seppo gamification platform) (Finland). The project is based on the Erasmus+ project Shape2Gether.

The course aims to contextualize geosciences, innovative technologies, and serious games within the climate change challenges. Specifically, students gain advanced knowledge and insight into how to shape innovations into education for sustainable development by tackling local-based environmental problems, how to make participants real actors or agents of change in the topic, and how to raise awareness in importance of local-based actions (active citizenship).

The course will focus on supporting awareness-raising about environmental and climate change challenges, by training the students on how to use modern technologies and approaches to increase engagement and knowledge within the framework of education for sustainable development. Importance will be given to self-awareness and local-based actions to improve our environment.

Learning outcome

A student who has completed the course is expected to have achieved the following learning outcomes, defined in terms of knowledge, skills, and general competence:

Knowledge:

The students will gain advanced knowledge about how to implement innovative approaches and technologies using serious games in geography, geoinformatics, and teacher education for sustainable development and climate change mitigation and adaptation in Europe. By approaching these wicked problems from different angles, the student will get knowledge about how to approach wicked problems in general, in terms of education and sustainable development. Fulfilling the course also gives the students advanced level theoretical knowledge about serious games, how to create awareness about climate change, as well as effective implementation of local actions for global change.

Skills:

• Geoscience techniques for innovative learning and teaching practices
• Pedagogy frameworks for geoscience and natural science in teacher education
• Serious game design
• Research-based learning

General competence:

Students will develop advanced and critical socially relevant knowledge. They will work independently and in groups. The students will develop their understanding of sustainable development and gain advanced knowledge on how to implement actions of change into society. The course is built on innovative and interdisciplinary educational approaches, training and dissemination events, active learning methodologies, and research-based approaches towards schools, universities and local communities.

Learning methods and activities

The students will be part of an international and interdisciplinary group over 3 semesters. Lectures will be virtual, blended and in person, in the form of intensive 5-day summer schools.

• Online classrooms
• Summer School in Trondheim on geoscience and new technologies (14.-19th May, 2024)
• Summer school in Malta on education for sustainable development (20.-27th October, 2024)
• Summer school in Bochum on discursive game design (March, 2025)

Exact dates for the March 2025 summer school will be announced as soon as possible.

It is desirable that students design and develop their Master Thesis within the topics linked to the project: e.g., virtual reality, environmental wicked problems/environmental science, technology, GIS (Geographic Information Systems), gamification or similar; and/or related to education.

Further on evaluation

To get the 15 credits the entire course program within the Shape2Gether Erasmus+ project needs to be fulfilled. The exam consists of two parts:

Portfolio (1/2): This part of the exam consists of a portfolio submission of three assignments related to the summer schools. All parts of the portfolio must be submitted and assessed as passed in order to obtain a grade. Details about the portfolio will be announced in the beginning of the course.

Oral Exam (1/2): Up to 30 minutes oral exam.

Specific conditions

Required previous knowledge

This is an admission restricted course. Admission requires that you have been selected to participate in the Shape2Gether Erasmus+ program. Admission to the course is done in consultation with the Department of Geography and is based on grades and study program.

Study entry is limited to 4 students, ideally 50% from Department of Geography (IGE) and 50% from Department of Teacher Education (ILU). If less than 2 students have applied from each of these departments - the balance between them can alter. The following students will be prioritized: Geography students in teacher education master program (MLGEOG, IGE); General teacher education master program students (ILU), taking natural science & social science subjects; and students in master in geography (MGEOG, IGE).